Study of Macro-invertebrates Group 2

By: Alex List Ryan Kiska Brian Tilton

THE TOPIC AND THE QUESTION

CONTENTS

THE HYPOTHESIS AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

THE METHODS AND STUDY SITE

THE RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER STUDY

Our Topic
The topic were studying is benthic macro-invertebrates which live in our streams statewide. The main question we are trying to tackle is how healthy are the streams in the Lake Fred system. The reason we are interested in these insects rather than larger amphibians and reptiles is because they are important bio-indicator species and remain relatively constant throughout the region. Also macro-invertebrates are not mobile like other animals

What We Knew:

Types of Sampling: Live

Assessment, Plate, and Stick sampling

Study sites chosen were based on

previous studies.

We knew what kinds of invertebrates

to expect.

NJDEP

What elements affect macro-invertebrates?

Questions We Asked and What We Learned

Temperature Rainfall Pressure Landscape Structures Location

What causes diversity?

Does construction have an effect on run-off water, which in turns affects macro-invertebrates?

Less natural filtration

Higher amounts of sediment and pollution

Do invertabrates affect one another?

Indirect competition

As a result of the increased building on Stocktons campus, the amount of open space has decreased where water can percolate into the soil. This has caused an increase in the amount of surface runoff entering the Lake Fred Watershed. This has caused an increase in the amount of pollution and sediment entering the watershed which would have a negative effect on the populations of macro invertebrates that inhabit this area. The increased rainfall amounts would normally positively affect the macro population but due to the runoff water pollution on campus it actually negatively impacts the macro invertebrates.

HYPOTHESIS

NULL HYPOTHESIS
Even though the pollution and runoff have increased on campus due to construction the amounts of macro invertebrates will actually remain the same or increase showing no negative effect on the populations of macro invertebrates.

TESTING OUR HYPOTHESIS

Stream Side Bi-Assessment Plate Sampling

HYPOTHESIS TREATMENTS Cedik Run Site Two Moss Mill Stream Sites

HYPOTHESIS CONTROLS Clark's Mill Site Zurich Road Site

IN ORDER TO REJECT OUR NULL HYPOTHESIS

Control sites must have more species diversity and a higher amount of species total than our experimental sites did.

THE METHODS AND STUDY SITE

HOW DID YOU ACTUALLY CARRY OUT THE EXPERIMENT/STUDY? DESCRIBE , MAP AND ILLUSTRATE THE STUDY SITE WHAT WERE THE DATES AND CONDITIONS? HOW DID YOU COLLECT, STORE, IDENTIFY, ETC. ANY SAMPLES YOU COLLECTED? WHAT METHODS WERE USED TO ANALYZE THE DATA (WAS IT BY EYEBALL AND GUESS OR BY STATISTICS, ETC.)?

Visual Assessment
Stream characteristics:
Width, depth, velocity, sediment type

Surroundings:
Man-made structures, canopy, litter, algae

Take note of physical/biological disturbances